India's Shubhanshu Shukla Selected as Prime Astronaut for Landmark Indo-US ISS Mission

Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has been chosen as the prime astronaut for the Indo-US mission to the ISS. ISRO and NASA's joint endeavor marks a significant milestone in international space collaboration and India's advancing human spaceflight program.

Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the prime astronaut for the upcoming Indo-US mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced. This mission is part of a joint ISRO-NASA effort envisioned during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US in June 2023.

To achieve this collaborative goal, ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) has entered into a Space Flight Agreement (SFA) with Axiom Space Inc, a NASA-identified service provider, for the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. A National Mission Assignment Board has recommended two Gaganyatris, including Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as the backup pilot.

ISRO stated that the crew members will be finally approved by the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP). The selected astronauts will commence their training in August. During the mission, they will undertake scientific research and technology demonstrations aboard the ISS, benefiting India's Human Space Program and strengthening ISRO-NASA cooperation.